Synaptic Physiology and Plasticity

Neurons generate electrical signals to rapidly transmit and process information. Networks of neurons communicate through fast chemical synapses, where active presynaptic ‘sending’ neurons release neurotransmitter molecules that are sensed by receptors in the postsynaptic ‘receiving’ neurons to regenerate electrical signals. In response to experience, the strength of a synapse can undergo plastic changes over many time scales: short-term plasticity alters responses over milliseconds to seconds, and long-term plasticity can alter synaptic function for hours or days, or longer. These plastic changes are important in fundamental synaptic functions. Short-term synaptic plasticity filters and processes incoming signals, and long-term synaptic plasticity provides a cellular mechanism of information storage in the neuronal network. 

Our research is interested in understanding synaptic transmission and how it changes in response to experience, with a primary focus on glutamatergic synaptic signaling. We use the mouse acute brain slice preparation as a model system to study synaptic connections with electrophysiological measurements and 2-photon imaging.